As a driving instructor, you may be thinking about switching to an electric vehicle (EV). There are several considerations, and cost is undoubtedly an important factor. There’s a pervasive myth that EVs are more expensive than their petrol and diesel equivalents. But is this really true?

Will you be better off making the switch from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle?

Here we’ll look at the comparative costs of an AA Driving School EV franchise versus a franchise on a petrol car.

The short answer is no – it’s likely that teaching in an EV will work out cheaper, by a nose.

Let’s say you trade in your Peugeot 208 GT for its electric equivalent, the Peugeot e208 GT. Let’s also assume you drive an average of 120 business miles a day, five days a week, and take four weeks’ holiday a year. Your total business mileage will be 28,800 a year.

At the time of writing, your weekly franchise cost will be more expensive, at £219 as opposed to £169. However, you’ll be spending £22.78 a week to charge the vehicle1, rather than £73.57 on fuel2. That’s a saving of just over £2,640 a year.

Taking franchise costs into account, you should make an annual saving of £43.16 by switching to an EV.

So while your weekly saving is marginal, it adds up over time. It’s also worth noting that electric cars should become cheaper to run over time as technology develops. Plus, there are additional benefits to consider.

What are the other benefits of driving an EV?

Of course, when considering switching to an EV, it’s not just a matter of cost. There’s a significant environmental benefit, and there may even be a positive impact on your wellbeing.

Firstly, your tailpipe emissions will be slashed to zero. If you drive 28,800 miles a year, you’ll be reducing your tailpipe emissions of CO2e3 by 5.7 tonnes. Of course, electricity suppliers vary in terms of their green credentials. But according to the Energy Saving Trust4, charging your car from the UK National Grid will still result in an overall reduction in CO2 emissions of 66% compared with a petrol car.

Ultra low emissions vehicles such as EVs also produce little or no air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide. This means you’ll be contributing to better air quality, in addition to helping the country towards its 2050 net zero target.

Secondly, you may be helping to achieve inner harmony too. A 2018 study5 by the London Electric Vehicle Company (LEVC) and the University of York showed that driving an EV could have positive mental health benefits. The quieter environment of the electric car means that drivers are more relaxed, and better able to concentrate on the task at hand.

Finally, we all think that EVs are nicer to drive. Don’t believe us? Why not take one out for a spin and see what you think. We suspect you may not want to go back.

Find out what it’s like to drive an EV here.